Gerontology Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
Gerontology Wiki
Gerontology Wiki
7,499
pages
in: Female supercentenarians, Chinese supercentenarians, 1898 births,
and 8 more

Zeng Lejun

Sign in to edit
Zeng Lejun
Zeng Lejun
Zeng Lejun at the age of 106.
Birth: 12 April 1898
Suzhou, Jiangsu, Qing dynasty (China)
Death: fl.23 April 2008
Shanghai, China
Age: 110 years, 11+ days
Country: ChinaCHN
Unvalidated

Zeng Lejun [Chinese: 曾乐君] (12 April 1898 – fl.23 April 2008) was a Chinese supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Zeng Lejun claimed to be born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, Qing dynasty (China) on 12 April 1898, in an intellectual family. She had 14 siblings. Her father being open-minded, all his daughters were allowed to go to school. She studied in Suzhou and Nanjing. She reportedly witnessed the May Fourth Movement, which allowed Chinese women to work.

Zeng raised 11 children. Her oldest daughter was aged 80 (as of 2003), and her oldest son was aged 76 (as of 2003). Her descendants live in Canada, Australia, France, Japan, in the USA, and in other places.

When she was young, Zeng was the director of a kindergarten. She said: "I think the best thing for children is to send they study, and to allow them to earn knowledge."

Later Life[]

At the age of 80, Zeng was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and survived. At the age of 90, she underwent a biliary drain; aged 100, she underwent a cholecystectomy. At the age of 103, she began to take medication for her heart.

During the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, Zeng read about the dogged work of the nursing staff. She decided to donate her pension, given by the government, to the hospital.

In 2003, Zeng was reported as the tenth-oldest living person in Shanghai. At the time, she lived in Jiaozhou Road, Caojiadu Street, Jing'an District. She woke up at 9 a.m., and after breakfast, she read newspapers, and picked and peel vegetables. She took a nap between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. She watched television, before going to bed at 8 a.m. According to her doctor, she had the bone density of a 70-year-old.

In October 2005, Zeng was reported to be the fourth-oldest living person in Shanghai. In July 2006, she had a fall, which caused a leg fracture. In November 2006, she moved in a nursing home in Jing'an District.

Following the death of 112-year-old Hu Amei on 7 March 2007, Zeng became the oldest living person in Shanghai.

In April 2008, Zeng was visited by a journalist of the Oriental Morning Post. At the time, she was bedridden, but still had a good memory. She was able to say some words in English, and to recall the songs and poetries of her childhood (for example, she sang the Song of Selling Newspapers).

Zeng Lejun was last confirmed alive in Jing'an District, Shanghai, China on 23 April 2008, at the age of 110 years, 11 days. In September 2008, she went to limbo, as then-109-year-old Li Suqing was reported to be the oldest living person in Shanghai.

Gallery[]

References[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Gerontology Wiki